This 506.5-mile journey from L'Anse to Ann Arbor, Michigan, is a substantial undertaking, requiring approximately 9 hours and 35 minutes of driving time. Given the duration, it's best planned as a two-day trip rather than a single-day effort. The route primarily utilizes I-75, M-28, and US-2, making it a significant cross-state drive within the Midwest. With an estimated fuel cost of $79 and two planned stops, you'll want to budget your time and resources accordingly. This drive connects two points within Michigan, offering a comprehensive look at the state's diverse landscapes as you travel south.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
253.3 miles from L'Anse, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 5h 10m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
229.2 mi
3h 56m
M-28
70.9 mi
1h 24m
US 2
65.1 mi
1h 15m
US 41
53.4 mi
1h 10m
US 23
45.4 mi
48m
M 77
17.3 mi
20m
Palms Avenue
10.2 mi
14m
US-41/M-28
3.8 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 229.2 mi, about 3h 56m
Traffic on I-75
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 36 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,617 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,601
Quietest
2 AM
~82 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
19.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between L'Anse, MI and Ann Arbor, MI.
1
Start on East Broad Street
0.6 mi·1 min·East Broad Street
2
At end of road, turn left onto US 41
52 mi·1 hr 8 min·US 41
3
Enter roundabout onto US 41; M 28
92 ft·5 sec·US 41; M 28
4
Continue on US 41; M 28
0.9 mi·1 min·US 41; M 28
5
Enter roundabout onto US 41; M 28
94 ft·5 sec·Palms Avenue
6
Continue on US 41; M 28
10 mi·14 min·Palms Avenue
7
Enter roundabout onto US 41; M 28
116 ft·6 sec·US-41/M-28
8
Continue on US 41; M 28
0.5 mi·45 sec·US-41/M-28
9
Enter roundabout onto US 41; M 28
103 ft·6 sec·US-41/M-28
10
Continue on US 41; M 28
1.6 mi·2 min·US-41/M-28
11
Continue on US 41; M 28
1.0 mi·1 min·Marquette Bypass
12
Enter roundabout onto US 41; M 28
109 ft·6 sec·Marquette Bypass
13
Continue on US 41; M 28
0.2 mi·14 sec·Marquette Bypass
14
Enter roundabout onto US 41; M 28
107 ft·1 sec·Marquette Bypass
15
Continue on US 41; M 28
0.5 mi·52 sec·Marquette Bypass
16
Take the exit onto US 41; M 28
410 ft·10 sec·US 41; M 28
17
Merge onto US 41; M 28
2.6 mi·4 min·South Front Street
18
Continue on US 41; M 28
1.6 mi·2 min·US-41/M-28
19
Turn left onto M 28
36 mi·42 min·M-28
20
Continue on M 28
2.2 mi·4 min·West Munising Avenue
21
Continue on M 28
0.2 mi·22 sec·Cedar Street
22
Continue on M 28
35 mi·41 min·M-28
23
Turn sharp right onto M 77
17 mi·20 min·M 77
24
At end of road, turn left onto US 2
65 mi·1 hr 15 min·US 2
25
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward I 75 South: Mackinac Bridge
26
Merge onto I 75
94 mi·1 hr 37 min·I 75
27
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
124 mi·2 hr 7 min·I 75
Toward I 75: Saginaw, Detroit
28
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75; US 23
11 mi·11 min·I 75; US 23
29
Keep slight right at fork onto US 23
45 mi·48 min·US 23
Toward US 23: Ann ArborUse the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Take the exit onto US 23 BUS
1.5 mi·1 min·US 23 BUS
Exit 45Toward M 14 West: Ann ArborUse the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Take the exit onto US 23 BUS
0.9 mi·1 min·US 23 BUS
Exit 3Toward US 23 BUS: Downtown Ann ArborUse the slight right lane.
32
Turn left onto Depot Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Depot Street
Use the left lane.
33
Turn right
119 ft·6 sec
34
Continue on North State Street
0.6 mi·1 min·North State Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
35
Arrive at destination
South State Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 9.5-hour drive, consider an early morning departure to maximize daylight driving. Given the distance and the longest stretch of 229.2 miles on I-75, splitting this into two days is highly recommended; aim for roughly half the distance or driving time each day. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the longer highway segments, and plan your two stops strategically for rest and refueling. A practical tip for this route is to be aware that US-2 can be more scenic but may also have lower speed limits and more local traffic than the interstates, so factor that into your timing.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 253.3 miles from L'Anse, MI, or about 5h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 229.2 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 111 miles or 2h 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 253.3 miles or 5h 10m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 253.3 miles or 5h 10m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 8h 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ann Arbor, MI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving L'Anse, MI so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from L'Anse, MI
Aim for roughly 253 miles and 4.8 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Ann Arbor, MI
Aim for roughly 253 miles and 4.8 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 111 miles from L'Anse, MI.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 75 for about 229.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 67.5 and 504.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
67.5 mi into trip|~1h 30m in|US 41; M 28 / Marquette Bypass
Enter roundabout onto US 41; M 28 / Marquette Bypass
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
322.5 mi into trip|~6h 22m in|I 75
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75 toward I 75: Saginaw, Detroit
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 75: Saginaw, Detroit
7
457.7 mi into trip|~8h 40m in|US 23
Keep slight right at fork onto US 23 toward US 23: Ann Arbor
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 23: Ann Arbor
7
503.1 mi into trip|~9h 29m in|US 23 BUS
Take the exit onto US 23 BUS toward M 14 West: Ann Arbor
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 45
Toward M 14 West: Ann Arbor
7
504.6 mi into trip|~9h 31m in|US 23 BUS
Take the exit onto US 23 BUS toward US 23 BUS: Downtown Ann Arbor
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 3
Toward US 23 BUS: Downtown Ann Arbor
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$74.80 one way
$149.60 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg177 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$82.58
$165.15
premium
$4.72
$94.04
$188.08
diesel
$4.80
$95.64
$191.27
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$75
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$205–$315
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 177.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $53 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
152
1
$53.18
$24.31
Efficient EV
126.6
1
$44.32
$20.26
EV Truck/SUV
202.6
2
$70.91
$32.42
Gas CO2
177 kg
EV CO2
59 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Jul 14, 2026
Origin
L'Anse, MI
Late night
in L'Anse on Sunday
Local time
3:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
94°F
Sunny then Patchy Smoke
W 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 14 at 10:14AM EDT until July 15 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Grand Rapids MI
Extreme Heat Warning
Extreme Heat Warning issued July 14 at 3:26AM EDT until July 14 at 10:00PM EDT by NWS Marquette MI
Destination
Ann Arbor, MI
Late night
in Ann Arbor on Sunday
Local time
3:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
99°F
Sunny
W 9 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 14 at 10:14AM EDT until July 15 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Grand Rapids MI
Extreme Heat Warning
Extreme Heat Warning issued July 14 at 3:26AM EDT until July 14 at 10:00PM EDT by NWS Marquette MI
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
5 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
9h 35m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
National Lakeshore
Sandstone cliffs, beaches, waterfalls, sand dunes, inland lakes, deep forest, and wild shoreline beckon you to visit Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The power of Lake Superior shapes the park's coa...
16 mi from route
~40 min detour
$25
near mile 122.3
Park Closure: Munising Falls Trail Closed Until Further Notice
The stories of people and copper in the Keweenaw Peninsula have been intertwined for more than 7,000 years. Indigenous peoples made copper into tools and trade items. Investors and immigrants arrived...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend a significant portion of this drive, 79%, on highways, indicating a good amount of faster-paced travel. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 229.2 miles on I-75, which means you can cover substantial ground efficiently. While the highway share suggests an interstate-heavy experience, the inclusion of M-28 and US-2 hints at potential shifts in scenery and road type as you navigate between major arteries. Expect a mix of open highway cruising and possibly some more varied driving as you transition between these main roads.
79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
35 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 229.2 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and M-28. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 67.5 miles in near US 41; M 28 / Marquette Bypass.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 506.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 67.5 miles (US 41; M 28 / Marquette Bypass): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 322.5 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 457.7 miles (US 23): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,566 ft589 ft
Total Climb
2,144 ft
Total Descent
1,883 ft
Highest Point
1,566 ft
~36.2 mi in
Elevation Range
977 ft
Notable High Points
1,566 ft at ~36.2 miles+911 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from L'Anse, MI to Ann Arbor, MI, road signs begin pointing toward Detroit along the way.
Ann Arbor — often abbreviated as AA or A2 — is a picturesque city surrounding the University of Michigan. It has a strong bent toward the arts, and an attractive and pedestrian-friendly downtown. Visitors enjoy the city's wonderful sidewalk cafe dining, unique shops, lots of bookstores, and abundant cultural opportunities.
Ann Arbor is in Michigan 35 miles (56 km) north of the Ohio border and 45 miles (72 km) west of Detroit, near where the furthest exurban fringes give way to country and small towns. In 2019, the city had a population of about 120,000 people, and thousands of visitors come to town for football games and various festivals.
Top landmarks
•Detroit Observatory — astronomical observatory in Ann Arbor, United States of America
•Kelsey Museum of Archaeology — archaeology museum in Newberry Hall
•Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum — museum in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
The longest stretch is about 229.2 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 253 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 35 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Ann Arbor, MI before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 2 meaningful breaks. There are 35 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 67.5 miles (US 41; M 28 / Marquette Bypass): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 322.5 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 457.7 miles (US 23): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and Keweenaw National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 9.6 hours each way, a round trip means 19.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Ann Arbor, MI before the return drive.
